UBI - Good? Bad?

 UBI = Universal Basic Income. Good idea? Or not?

Do you know anything about UBI? How would you like $1,000/month? Free. Really? 

Sit down with your kids and watch this 5-minute video. Then have that discussion. Tell them how you'd feel about 74% increase in your taxes.

Where is personal responsibility in the scheme of Life?

Release Time for Religious Instruction

Do you know what this proposal is really all about? If you listened to speakers at the last two school board meetings (August 8 and August 22), you probably don't.

I'm not even sure all the board trustees understand it.

It is about time. That's all; time. It's not about religious instruction.

Many speakers during Public Participation praised the religious instruction that students can get. Some did not approve of releasing students from the school day to go to religious instruction.

It seems to me that it is not about religious instruction. It is about Release Time.

It is about approving a student's leaving the school campus during the school day to go off-campus for religious instruction.

State law (§59-1-460 (B)) reads, in part, "It is the responsibility of the student to make up any missed schoolwork."

Is that homework only? Is it classroom work only? Do that mean tutoring time or time with a teacher outside of the assigned classroom hour? What about Seat Time?

How long is the Release Time? Is it one hour? Or is it from the end of one class to the beginning of the class after the Release Time? 

How can a student get down the hallways, outside to transportation, to his place of religious study, back into transportation, back to the school entrance, through security, and into the classroom, seated, and back in the school "groove"?

Trustees should just say "No" and move on to other important school business. How many hours are trustees wasting on this? Two segments at board meetings, plus all the time for email and phone calls and stand-up visits.

Religious instruction is commendable. A student should do it on his own time, away from school. Period.

One speaker on Release Time 8/22/2023

This speaker from last night's (August 22, 2023) school board meeting addressed the "Release Time for Religious Instruction" topic that was on the agenda.

When Chair Joe Trapp introduced him, his name sounded like Bernett Galman. If somebody will let me know the correct name, if this isn't it, I'll correct it.

His remarks can be heard on the YouTube recording of the meeting at 45:55

You can go straight to his comments by clicking on this link. Then click the Play arrow at the bottom left.

Among other words he used: "imperialist attempt by fundamental Christian nationalist activists"; scorn; disrespect; kidnapping of slaves and ancestors; "racism is common in many Christian churches"; atrocities; indoctrination; overdose of religion; create religious state; misogynistic, racist, toxic, patriarchal values; Handmaiden series; disparity of black people; blatant hypocrisy ...

Do you think he had any understanding of the proposal being considered by the board?

Do school board members like 4-hour meetings?

The last school board meeting (8/8/2023) was over four hours long, including the executive session that lasted over an hour. The video on livestream.com/richland2 starts at 01:55

There was a sound problem until 03:47, when words can first be heard. When the sound begins, it seems that Trustee Scott was questioning an agenda item for a program that had not existed for several years. Trustee Agostini questioned another agenda item. Then Trustee Agostini made a motion to remove two items from the agenda. 

The Motion failed (3-4). Agostini, Porter, and Scott were in favor. Trapp, Nash, Washington, and McFadden voted against.

Then somebody spoke without being recognized and said she wanted Item 10.1 removed, because "that program" (f the SCSBA) is no longer operating. What she should have done was make a motion. That's how you get business done. Trapp and Scott made comments. There should have been a motion! Everything that was said, should have been said after a Motion and Second.

Finally Trustee Porter made the Motion to remove Item 10.1. The vote was 6-1. Nash voted No. The Motion passed.

How many more months will it take for Trustees to learn to ask for recognition and not just starting talking?

Do the trustees really like having four-hour meetings? By now, nine months after being elected, trustees should know how to conduct business.

The problem is there are not enough executives on the board, and there is no Parliamentarian.

A Motion was made to approve the Agenda without Item 10.2 The vote was 6-1; Agostini voted No. Motion passed.

Finally they got to the Motion to enter Executive Session, which was approved 7-0. At 17:12 the board left for Executive Session. What should have taken 2-3 minutes took 15 minutes!

Later in the meeting, during the discussion of the Release Time for Religious Instruction, again the desperate need for a Parliamentarian arose, when many comments by trustees were not germane to the issue being discussed. 

Clarification on Liability

At the August 8, 2023 school board meeting, there was a robust discussion of the Religious Instruction item on the agenda. You can watch that on livestream.com/richland2, beginning at 3:06:05

Late in the discussion, Trustee Scott mentioned liability.

At 3:35:34 Supt. Moore responded to Trustee Scott and said "... the school district is not liable". She said the District is not liable for vehicle insurance or vetting people associated with the religious instruction program. "We have zero liability..."

"Once that student has signed out (for the day's religious instruction), we are no longer liable for what takes place for that student..."

That is not what the statute says. 

Mrs. Gregory read the statute earlier in the meeting. The statute (S.C. Code of Laws 59-1-460 (A)) reads, in part, "4. the sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student that [sic] is excused."

The statute does not say that the District will not have any liability.

'"Wall" at school board meetings

What is the purpose of the "wall" at school board meetings?

At the August 8, 2023, three large tables were placed in front of the four board members' desks. Sure, they were covered with nice, white tablecloths.

But why were they even there?

Were they there to "protect" the board members from the public?

Were they were to protect the public from the board members?

If they were there for protection, they are useless. Anyone can see why.

Release Time for Religious Instruction?

The following email has been sent to Richland 2 board members and the superintendent:

Before more board time is devoted (wasted, in my opinion) to the Religious Instruction movement, may I suggest that a survey of parents be conducted to determine the extent of interest? http://www.SurveyMonkey.com offers a fast, easy survey tool.

I side with Rabbi Case and the former principal who spoke at the August 8th board meeting. This is a bad idea. Religious instruction should be conducted outside of school hours, regardless of Federal and State laws that permit school boards to allow it.

Those who spoke in favor of it would turn Richland Two into a gospel-preaching district and will vilify those who do not participate. It becomes one more division between people. 

Has Supt. Moore offered an feasibility study of the workload (and cost) on staff to implement and maintain such a program? Who is going to track the kids for timely return to campus, security screening, and re-entry to the classroom? What is the District's cost to discipline those who abuse the "choice"? The troublemakers are not going to ask to be released for religious instruction, so they won't benefit habit-wise or goals-wise.

The religious parents will love it. Will they be the ones providing on-time transportation in both directions? 

In the grand scheme of things, aren't there many more-important issues for the school board to address?